Hull (?), n. [OE. hul, hol, shell, husk, AS. hulu; akin to G. hulle covering, husk, case, hullen to cover, Goth. huljan to cover, AS. helan to hele, conceal. &root;17. See Hele, v. t., Hell.] 1. The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.
2. [In this sense perh. influenced by D. hol hold of a ship, E. hold.] Naut. The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging.
Deep in their hulls our deadly bullets light.
Dryden.
Hull down, said of a ship so distant that her hull is concealed by the convexity of the sea.
© Webster 1913.
Hull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hulled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hulling.] 1. To strip off or separate the hull or hulls of; to free from integument; as, to hull corn.
2. To pierce the hull of, as a ship, with a cannon ball.
© Webster 1913.
Hull, v. i. To toss or drive on the water, like the hull of a ship without sails. [Obs.]
Shak. Milton.
© Webster 1913. | 
